CARBONDALE, IL – As a result of rising fuel costs and growing environmental concerns, the City of Carbondale is now considering hybrid vehicles when buying new city vehicles, according to the Southern Illinoisan. The Carbondale City Council voted unanimously May 16 to set a policy of including bids for hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles when it needs to replace or add cars and trucks to the city’s fleet. The city council will now ask the city’s Energy and Environmental Advisory Commission to discuss the policy at its next meeting. The council held off spending $24,210 to purchase a 2006 Ford Expedition for the fire department, in part because the SUV gets poor gas mileage. City Manager Jeff Doherty, as reported in the Southern Illinoisan, said it would be important to ensure any vehicle purchased meets the city’s standards.